feeling of incompleteness

Opinion mixed again for an author who became one of my favorite writers at the time of "The Brimstone Wedding", "No Night is Too Long" or "The Chimney Sweeper's Boy". If Mrs Rendell / Vine always writes very well, we must recognize that for some years, I do not see the impact of these subtle intrigues that made me close the book with a deep sense of satisfaction.
"The Girl Next Door" seems to promise a detective mystery hands cut off victims of a double murder are found decades later, thereby causing the reunion of the band of children playing together at the time. These children are now elderly and Mrs Rendell herself octogenarian explores forward their feelings, their emotions, their view of the present.
Mystery there is no, or hardly: the identity of the murderer and one victim is known from the outset and the only outstanding issue is knowing who owns the other hand. If the enigmas of the Inspector Columbo has shown that prior knowledge of the culprit is not an obstacle to a good plot, this is not the case here: the "revelation" left me relatively indifferent and I don ' have not really had the impression of reading a detective story, a thriller or so at very moderate suspense. Rather it is a psychological exploration of old age, which was a bit inevitable given the advanced age of the protagonists, but not without interest, this analysis does not particularly captivated me.
I read the book but without displeasure to the end, I waited and hoped for a revelation or a turnaround that did not come, leaving a mixed impression in the end, as when one is facing a beginner author and that one says he has certain qualities and will do better next time. It is better to follow the opposite route this time: If you do not know Ruth Rendell / Barbara Vine, rather immerse yourself in his earlier works, they are more accomplished and more satisfactory.